Q&A with Framework Brewery

October 18, 2017

It’s no secret that I’m partial to a tipple (or two!), and when a winery or brewery makes an effort to not only create vegan drinks, but actively market them as such, I fall in love. Step in Framework Brewery. I first came across these guys at a vegan market and then started to see their beers pop up around various pubs in Leicester. They are proudly vegan which is so refreshing. Here, I talk to Jonathan, one of the founders of Framework, about why they are passionate about producing vegan beer, and what their plans are for the future.

How did Framework Brewery begin?

We moved into the building that we are currently in at the beginning of November 2016, received our kit mid-November and started brewing at the beginning of December 2016.

Why did you choose Leicester?

We (the directors) all live in Leicester and are proud of the fact. We are also (as far as we’re aware) the only microbrewery based in the city. You could say that Leicester chose us ☺

You are vocal about the fact that all your beers are vegan – why is this important to you?

We saw the use of isinglass (sturgeon swim bladder) as a fining agent (to clear the beer) as an unnecessary part of the brewing process. It isolates part of the drinking market and, if you think about it, is quite an odd addition to the process. Instead, we’ve found a silicate based fining that is vegan friendly.

What beers do you produce, and what has been the most popular?

We have a schedule of what beers we are going to do regularly e.g. Pale Ales and IPA’s. Around that we have seasonal beers which are appropriate to the time of year and feedback that we get from landlords. We also try to do as many collaborations with other breweries as possible as they are a great way of gaining knowledge (we’ve collabed with Twisted Barrel of Coventry, Rat brewery of Huddersfield and True North of Sheffield, all who have a wealth of knowledge and experience) as well as getting our beer into parts of the country that we can’t reach yet.

Where can people find your beers?

All good free houses, bottles shops and bars across the Midlands and beyond.

Any exciting things planned for the future?

We are in the process of converting our reception to a bottle shop so that people can come to the brewery to buy bottled beer.

There you have it – if you see Framework beers in any shops or pubs, be sure to support local and give them a try!